Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” Quotes (151 Quotes)

An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. From this day you must be a stranger to one of your parents.

Do not give way to useless alarm; though it is right to be prepared for the worst, there is no occasion to look on it as certain.

Heaven forbid! -- That would be the greatest misfortune of all! -- To find a man agreeable whom one is determined to hate! -- Do not wish me such an evil.

I have been meditating on the very great pleasure which a pair of fine eyes in the face of a pretty woman can bestow.

Indeed, sir, I have not the least intention of dancing. I entreat you not to suppose that I moved this way in order to beg for a partner.

Miss Darcy was tall and on a larger scale than Elizabeth and though little more than sixteen her figure was formed and her appearance womanly and graceful. She was less handsome than her brother but there was sense and good humour in her face and her manners were perfectly unassuming and gentle. Elizabeth who had expected to find in her as acute and unembarrassed an observer as ever Mr. Darcy had been was much relieved by discerning such different feelings.

Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!

There is so much of gratitude or vanity in almost every attachment, that it is not safe to leave any to itself. We can all BEGIN freely--a slight preference is natural enough; but there are very few of us who have heart enough to be really in love without encouragement. In nine cases out of ten a women had better show MORE affection than she feels. Bingley likes your sister undoubtedly; but he may never do more than like her, if she does not help him on.

What are men to rocks and mountains?

You were disgusted with the women who were always speaking and looking, and thinking for your approbation alone. I roused, and interested you, because I was so unlike them.

And if I had not a letter to write myself, I might sit by you and admire the evenness of your writing, as another young lady once did. But I have an aunt too, who must not be longer neglected.

Do not you feel a great inclination, Miss Bennet, to seize such an opportunity of dancing a reel?

Her heart did whisper that he had done it for her.

I have faults enough, but they are not, I hope, of understanding. My temper I dare not vouch for. It is, I believe, too little yielding- certainly too little for the convenience of the world. I cannot forget the follies and vices of other so soon as I ought, nor their offenses against myself. My feelings are not puffed about with every attempt to move them. My temper would perhaps be called resentful. My good opinion once lost, is lost forever.

It is particularly incumbent on those who never change their opinion, to be secure of judging properly at first.

Money is the best recipe for happiness.

Oh, Lizzy! do anything rather than marry without affection.

There seemed a gulf impassable between them.

What do I not owe you! You taught me a lesson, hard indeed at first, but most advantageous. By you, I was properly humbled. I came to you without a doubt of my reception. You showed me how insufficient were all my pretensions to please a woman worthy of being pleased. - Darcy

And what am I to do on the occasion? -- It seems an hopeless business.

Elizabeth could never address her without feeling that all the comfort of intimacy was over, and, though determined not to slacken as a correspondent, it was for the sake of what had been, rather than what was.

Her mind was less difficult to develop.

I have no pretensions whatever to that kind of elegance which consists in tormenting a respectable man.

It is wonderful, for almost all his actions may be traced to pride;-and pride has often been his best friend.

Mr. Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr. Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go; and till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner. Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with:

One word from you shall silence me forever.

They walked on, without knowing in what direction. There was too much to be thought, and felt, and said, for attention to any other objects.

What praise is more valuable than the praise of an intelligent servant?

Angry people are not always wise.

Elizabeth found that nothing was beneath this great lady's attention, which could furnish her with an occasion of dictating to others.

His sisters were anxious for his having an estate of his own; but, though he was now only established as a tenant, Miss Bingley was by no means unwilling to preside at his table-nor was Mrs. Hurst, who had married

I have not the pleasure of understanding you.

It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.

Mr. Bennet's expectations were fully answered. His cousin was as absurd as he had hoped, and he listened to him with the keenest enjoyment.

She attracted him more than he liked.

They were rather handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town,

When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.

Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?

Elizabeth had never been more at a loss to make her feelings appear what they were not. It was necessary to laugh, when she would rather have cried.

How clever you are, to know something of which you are ignorant.

I know you do; and it is that which makes the wonder. With your good sense, to be so honestly blind to the follies and nonsense of others! Affectation of candour is common enough-one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design-to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad-belongs to you alone. And so you like this man's sisters, too, do you? Their manners are not equal to his.

It makes me very nervous and poorly,to be thwarted so in my own family, and to have neighbours who think of themselves before anybody else. However, your coming just at this time is the greatest of comforts, and I am very glad to hear what you tell us, of long sleeves.

Mr. Darcy began to feel the danger of paying Elizabeth too much attention.

She began now to comprehend that he was exactly the man who, in disposition and talents, would most suit her. His understanding and temper, though unlike her own, would have answered all her wishes. It was an union that must have been to the advantage of both: by her ease and liveliness, his mind might have been softened, his manners improved; and from his judgement, information, and knowledge of the world, she must have received benefit of greater importance.

They were within twenty yards of each other, and so abrupt was his appearance, that it was impossible to avoid his sight. Their eyes instantly met, and the cheeks of each were overspread with the deepest blush. He absolutely started, and for a moment seemed immoveable from surprise; but shortly recovering himself, advanced towards the party, and spoke to Elizabeth, if not in terms of perfect composure, at least of perfect civility.

Where she feared most to fail, she was most sure of success, for those to whom she endeavored to give pleasure were prepossessed in her favor.

Are you consulting your own feelings in the present case, or do you imagine that you are gratifying mine?

Elizabeth received them with all the forbearance of civility

How earnestly did she then wish that her former opinions had been more reasonable, more moderate!

I must have my share in the conversation…